NRI ( Page 43 of 84 )

NRI and Daughter killed in road accident February 17, 2017 10:48

In road accident a US-based NRI and his daughter in law were killed while his wife and son were critically injured, when their vehicle fell into a dry canal after being hit by a truck. The family was travelling from Begowal in Bholath subdivision to Chandigarh. The incident occurred on Thursday early morning 4:30 a.m. at Adampur. 64-year-old Mela Singh and his wife Jasvir Kaur were going for a medical examination to get her visa application work done with their son 32-year-old Lakhwinder Singh. Lakhwinder Singh married 28-year-old Amandeep Kaur around six months ago. Both Mela Singh and Amandeep died on the spot. The family was taking a turn at Adampur near the canal when the Lakhwinder who was driving the car failed to notice the truck and took the hit. The car filled and fell into the canal. The oil tanker truck was heading towards the Indian Oil Depot at Suchi Pind. The driver of the truck Santosh Kumar of Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh fled the spot. A case under Sections 304-A (causing death by negligence), 279 (rash driving or driving on a public way), 337 (causing damage by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 338 (causing damage by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) has been registered against him. NRI Couple charged in murder conspiracy of adopted son AMandeep

Indian-origin Surgeon suspended after writing love letter to patient February 16, 2017 10:29

The United Kingdom tribunal has banned an Indian-origin surgeon from practicing medicine, after he was found guilty of abusing his professional position by writing a love letter to a female patient. 59-year-old Dr Sachiendra Amaragiri was removed from the UK’s medical practitioners’ register, after a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) hearing was reported that the Dr Amaragiri was infatuated with a lady he treated for a stomach complaint, the identity of the woman has not been disclosed. Dr Amaragiri wrote in the letter “You twanged some distant cord which had laid dormant in me for so many years. When you stepped into my clinic for the first time, I was suddenly stunned and taken aback by your presence.” According to a report, after receiving the letter the woman called the police and complained that she was very distressed. Dr. Amaragiri, who was not present at the MPTS hearing, has insisted he had not taken advantage of Patient A and described that his letter to her, which also invited her out for a coffee, as a “moment of madness”. Since then the doctor has apologized to the woman and his colleagues at the Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley in the West Midlands region of England, where he worked as a consultant. Dr. Amaragiri said that he intends to appeal the tribunal’s decision to suspend his medical registration. Indian-origin NASA employee detained at Airport AMandeep

INOC wants to ban funds to Hindu groups February 16, 2017 10:22

The Indian National Overseas Congrees (INOC) in the United States is seeking an action against Hindutva groups that raise funds in the Country, after an independent bipartisian American group asked President Trump’s administration to ban such groups in the United States. The Chairman of the Indian National Overseas Congress George Abraham said in a statement that it was unfortunate that last two years have witnessed a steady deterioration of religious freedom and current rights in India, especially that of the minorities and the current administration cannot shirk their responsibility in that regard. US Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in their latest report by a Pakistan-origin author mentioned that the religious minority groups and low caste people face discrimination and persecution in India, where hate crimes, social boycotts and forced conversion have escalated dramatically since last two years. The report urged India to immediately lift sanctions against NGOs that are working for the welfare of the minorities in India. The report also pointed out that FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) is an escalating tool used to shut down foreign-funded minority NGOs., according to INOC. "INOC, the United States had urged the growing Indian community in the country to refrain from funding these organizations that promote hatred and bigotry against the minorities in India," it said. More than ever, as minorities in the United States, it is incumbent upon us to uphold the democratic and pluralistic values that are a hallmark of this country and it is in our own 'vested interests' to see that those values preserved and protected," it said. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) slammed the report and said it was outsourced exclusively to activist Iqtidar Karamat Cheema, who is a Pakistan-origin author, HAF raised serious questions about the Commission's credibility and transparency. The senior director of HAF Samir Kalra said "USCIRF has failed to justify its intentions of this report on the India prima face based on the sources cited and findings presented." "Though the previous reports that were published by USCIRF on religious extremism within Pakistan's textbooks have been deemed insightful by the leaders of HAF, this recent report does not meet the standard of those reports and in the context of India's pluralistic democracy, the report's author simply cites what have become known as 'alternative facts'," he said. HAF criticized USCIRF over anti-India report AMandeep

NRI couple charged in murder conspiracy of adopted son February 15, 2017 10:12

In a devastating incident an NRI couple have hired engaged killers to finish of their adopted son. An Nri couple has been charged for allegedly being part of the murder of their adopted son so the couple could pocket the insurance amount of 1.2crore rupees, which they had taken as a cover for the latter’s life, police said. Police lodged an FIR against the couple, Kanwaljitsinh Raijada and his wife Arti Loknath for allegedly being part of the conspiracy to murder 13-year-old Gopal, said Keshod police inspector Ashok Tilva. Arti and Kanwaljitsinh conspired with Nitish Mund to adopt Gopal and get him insured and then murder him, so they could cover the insurance money. Nitish also lived in London before shifting back to India after his visa got expired. He planned along with the couple to kill Gopal since 2015, Mr. Tilva said. After police officers arrested Nitish on Monday in connection with the murder, the involvement of the couple was revealed. The boy was stabbed by unknown accused riding tow motorbikes on the night of 8th February in Keshod, Junagadh district, the body stopped breathing on Monday at a Rajkot hospital on Monday. Gopal was returning back to his home town Maliya from Rajkot, he was accompanied with Nitish, Haruskh Patel and Mahadev, Mr. Tilva said. Gopal was living with Nitish who planned the crime by hiring two local goons for 500,000 rupees each, Mr. Tilva said. Indian-origin charged for helping gangsters AMandeep

Indian-origin NASA employee detained at Airport February 13, 2017 17:31

An Indian-origin was stopped at the George Bush International Airport in Houston, Texas. Sidd Bikkannavar is an American citizen of Indian-origin and an employee of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. After spending two weeks in South America, he was flying back home to the United States on January 30th. When he arrived at the airport, he was welcomed with an unexpected gesture that Sidd would never have thought as he was an American. According to the reports, he was stopped at the airport and was questioned for over four hours and also had to divulge his phone’s PIN to be let of finally. Sidd left to South America on January 15th, while Obama was still the President, when he returned on January 30th, it was little over a week into the Trump’s presidency. Sidd posted an on his Facebook wall stating that he was “detained by the Homeland Security and held with others stranded due to the immigration ban.” Though he initially refused to share his PIN, as his one of the phone was the property of his office with confidential information on it, he was forced to give his PIN and was detained till they finished copying data from the phone. His entry should not have raised such problems as he is an American by birth with a US passport. He is also enrolled in Global Entry, a program through CBP that allows individuals who have undergone background checks to have expedited entry into the country. Sidd did not visit any of the listed country listed in Trump’s immigration ban. His office where he has been working since 10 years, JPL, is a US federal agency. His passport was scanned by the CBP, when he entered the country and was taken to a room to wait along with five other people, who seemed to be affected by the ban. Sidd asked why Homeland security officers that why he was being questioned, but they did not provide him any answer.Sidd was also presented with a document titled “Inspection of Electronic Devices” and he was explained that the CBP can search his phone. He showed them the phone which had a JPL pin code protection, making the device a property of NASA. US may ask social media passwords from Visa Applicants AMandeep

Indian-origin woman killed by Tree Fall February 13, 2017 15:17

An Indian-origin woman died after being hit by a falling tembusu tree at the Singapore Botanic Gardens on Saturday 11th February. Her husband a French nationalist Jerome Rouch-Sirech, 39-year-old and their two children were also injured in the incident. 39-year-old Radhika Angara was the chief marketing and strategy officer at ‘Fastcash’ a global social and mobile payment platform. She moved to Singapore with her family in January 2013. She was previously the vice-president of marketing at Myntra Designs an online fashion online in Bangalore, India. Ms Angara, studied at the University of Pennsylvania and Ithaca College in the United States, she had also held positions at France-based electronic payment company Ingenico and international food company General Mills. Last year she left her job at Fastcash and joined as digital marketing regional head of Asia Pacific for Mastercard. CEO of Fastcash Mark Carter said in a message that Radhika was a pivotal member of the company’s management team and an inspirational leader, who garnered huge respect from all the persons who knew her. He said Radhika was always available to support her colleagues through the journey in Fastcash and she will be deeply missed. Condolences and deepest sympathies go to her family at this sad time, he said. Mr Rocuh was discharged from the National University Hospital on Saturday night. According to his Linkedin profile he heads retails at Puma South East Asia. In the incident a 26-year-old Singaporean woman was also injured, the incident took place at least 50m away from the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage. Ms Tay Pei Lei and that she too have been discharged from NUH. National Parks Board, which manages the Gardens, said it is investigating why the tree fell. Telangana student shot dead in California AMandeep

NRI visits India for pet surgery February 11, 2017 10:46

Sanjeev Jangwal a Punjabi NRI, who has settled in Paris have come to Ludhiana, India for the surgery of his pet dog Eva, three-year-old Bull Terrier. Eva was treated in ‘THE VETERINARY surgery department of state-owned Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University’ The surgery for cruciate ligament of the leg that left her lame and limping would have cost around 4,500 Euros (Rs 3.2 lakh) in Paris. Surgery was conducted on January 31st after that Eva is perfectly back on her feet; it costs only Rs 800 for surgery about 11 Euros. Even after including the cost of tests and medicines, the total expenses were Rs 800. A specialized fish line thread that was used in surgery cost 92 pounds approximately (Rs 7,740) was delivered from London. Jangwal said that even if he included the cost of Eva’s flight ticket, the price he would have spent was less than Rs 1 lakh on her treatment. He said the cost of surgery alone is Paris was Rs. 3.5 lakh. So Jangwal headed to India for Eva’s surgery and he ordered threads from London as GADVASU doctors said its result would be better. According to vets like Jangwal many other NRIs get their pets treated in India. The trend is giving rise to vet medical tourism in India, which is a growing field. “It was an extremely critical condition that Eva was in. It is not a rare surgery, but a specialized one in which the knee joint is opened and in European countries if the condition worsens, vets even suggest euthanasia. Dr Arun Anand, associate professor, veterinary surgery at GADVASU, said surgery being too costly in Europe, many opt for euthanasia, but with growing vet medical tourism, NRIs were landing in India to get their pets treated.” He added, a hole was drilled and the thread was installed to stabilize the knee joint. Eva is back to playing and eating. Harmeet Grewal is an NRI from Canada who is going to get her Pomeranian Cultural dog treated at Vets for Pets in Ludhiana, said, “Cost effectiveness is a major factor. Treatment, medicines and even pet food, everything are just too expensive abroad. My dog Murphy had a severe stomach infection and eczema on the legs.” Vipan Puri, whose daughter before shifting to the US from Singapore left their Australian Silky Terrier dog Mocha with him said that treatment for pets in India were way cheaper with almost the same facilities available abroad. But, few cases, ticket are too costly,” Dr Jaspreet Singh from Vets for Pets said “Maybe NRIs are saving their money, but it is a win-win situation for India as vet tourism holds major potential,” said Shawna Pandya clarifies not listed for NASA AMandeep

NRI visits India for pet surgery February 11, 2017 10:46

Shawna Pandya clarifies: Not listed for NASA February 10, 2017 18:26

News were circulated about an Indian-origin woman, Shawna Pandya stating that she was shortlisted for NASA. But she denied all the reports that stated being shortlisted for NASA. In a Facebook post she clarified that "The Canadian Space Agencyastronaut selection is ongoing and will be finalized by the end of this year; Pandya said that she was not a part of the selection". She also clarified that she was not a neurosurgeon or an opera singer. Shawna Pandya on her Facebook Post she wrote: Thank you all for your recent well-wishes and support; it is really fantastic to see such enthusiasm for space and exploration. I am many messages behind, but will get to them all in the coming days. In light of the many many media reports and interviews over the past 24 hours, I would just like to make a few clarifications about my work and qualifications, as I have noticed more than a few misstatements. “There has been no new announcement, flight assignment or selection of missions with respect to my work as a citizen-scientist astronaut with Project Possum or The PHEnOM Project”. “I am no more or less likely to fly than any other member of than these projects than I was 24 hours ago”. “I remain, however, a steadfast, committed and dedicated teammate and crew member to the work of both projects”. My work is separate from the work of the Canadian Space Agency and that of NASA, and should not be represented as such. The Canadian Space Agency astronaut selection is ongoing and will be finalized this year; I am not a part of the selection. While I have previously interned at NASA-Johnson Space Center, I have no current affiliation with either organization, and would like to clarify that any reports or articles claiming as such are mistaken. Any articles stating that I am a neurosurgeon are mistaken. I previously trained in neurosurgery for a short period; however, my medical license is in general practice. I am not an opera singer; I have sung opera on stage once. It went well and I would do it again; however, just as boxing once does not a boxer make, neither does that one event makes me an opera singer. I look forward to continuing my work as a physician, speaker and citizen-scientist astronaut and aquanaut, and just as importantly, look forward to continuing my work with outreach and education about these projects.Dr Shawna Pandya is working as a citizen-scientist, astronaut with Project Polar Suborbital Science in the Upper Mesosphere and physiological, health, and environmental observations in Microgravity. Indian-origin doctor performs operation to save woman’s life AMandeep

Missing Hyderabad NRI found dead in Falaknuma February 10, 2017 17:24

Syed Imran a 35-year-old NRI, who was working with the National Bank of Abu Dhabi had gone missing from Falaknuma, Hyderabad last week was found dead and his body buried at an under-construction house, police said today (February 10). Police on Friday got exhumed the body of Imran, who was employed as the Customer service Officer at National Bank of Abu Dhabi. Police said that he was murdered for having extra marital affair with a city-based woman. Imran’s mother lodged a missing complaint with Falaknuma police on February 4th. She said that her son had gone missing following which police registered a missing case. DCP of south zone V Satyanarayana said during the investigation, police found that Imran had met a lady at Rythu Bazzar (Vegetable Market) in Falaknuma and he left with her on a two-wheeler on 4th February. During the investigation, Saif Bin Sabeth Barabood said to police that the missing person was having an extra-marital affair with the wife of his elder brother Sayeed Bin Sabeth Barabood and also his elder sister. Sayeed Bin Sabeth Barabood was working as a servant in Qatar Army, when came back to Hyderabad. DCP explained that when Sayeed met his younger brother, he was informed about the extra-marital affair of Syed Imran with his wife and sister. Then Sayeed plotted a plan along with his brother Said Bin and his wife, they lured Imran through his wife to Rythu Bazaar from where they went to Jamalbanda, DCP said. "They later murdered Imran by cutting his throat with a knife after sprinkling chili powder in his eyes and caused his instantaneous death and buried his body," the senior police officer said. He further added that the investigation was in progress to bring-out the total facts and to unravel a conspiracy hatched by the accused persons. Indian-origin ordered to pay alimony to ex-wife AMandeep

Indian-Origin Doctor Performs Operation to Save Woman’s Life February 10, 2017 10:35

An Indian-origin saved the life of a young mother with what is believed to be the world’s first radical procedure. Mellissa Benoit a 32-year-old was born with cystic fibrosis and had developed a rampaging lung infection that spread throughout her body. Dr. Shafique Kehavje is an Indian-origin athoracic surgeon; he has years of experience at the forefront of innovative research into lung transplantation. Dr. Kehavjee said, operation was the only option, he explained that for the first time ever they had a patient in their intensive care with no lungs. In fact, she was technically on an artificial lung, an artificial heart and an artificial kidney for six days. Dr. Keshavjee and his 13 member surgeons and specialist team kept Benoit alive by the state of the art technology that oxygenated and circulated her blood, until organs from donors became available. Benoit said “You really come from the brink of death to living at home." But she was just so grateful and happy to be home. In the latest issue of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery issued the medical team’s report. She also said "I never thought I would be able to walk. And here, I am walking." Indian-origin led Star-up launched overseas transaction AMandeep

Indian origin led startup launched overseas transaction platform February 09, 2017 17:16

A financial technology startup based in Singapore by an NRI today launched an online platform by which people can transfer funds to India cheaply. SingX Pte Ltd is planning to expand its services from Singapore to allow online money transfer to Malaysia, Hong Kong and Australia, where it holds licenses along with other countries. The app was launched in mid January 2017, using the service Singapore based consumers can transfer money to Indian consumers at fraction of charges. They claimed that it would be a fraction of what consumers typically pay money transfer through regular banking charges. SingX is backed by some of the country’s most experienced bankers, the foreign exchange platform can help consumers and small/medium sized enterprises save up to 90% of remittance charges. Atul Gard the SingX’s Principal Founder and CEO said that the company wants to create the Airbnb of global payments with the Country’s first peer-to-peer foreign exchange platform. Garg said that they their targets are consumers and SMEs, the segments they believe are undeserved and consumers are paying higher rates of remittance. SingX’s technology will provide them with a smarter way of moving their funds, swiftly, smoothly and cheaply. Consumers no longer have to stand in bank queue’s or fill up the forms. Sid is of Indian-origin in Singapore with over 25 years of baking and payment experience. According to a report in 2016 by the Boston Consulting Group commissioned by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, estimates cross border payments at USD 30 trillion and growing at 10 per cent. The estimated revenues from cross border payments are USD 300 billion. Indian-origin awarded UK’s top honour in Mathematics AMandeep